"New" Job

I recently started working with a new set of schoolaged children at a nearby elementary school. I had been working at one school for the past three years, but with my new schedule it didn't work out for me to stay here. I'm currently "mourning" the kids I have had for three years. We became a sort of family and I will treasure all they taught me in those three years. I truly left part of my heart with them.

With my new placement came a bundle of new faces and names to learn. My first day was trying to say the least, but I ended up surprising myself. The boys saw me as a sub, fresh meat if you will, and did what we have all probably done from time to time: try to give the "new guy" a hard time. I had just gotten them all off the bus and now had the task of signing in a bunch of kids I had never seen before. I called off their names and some of the boys thought it would be funny to give me false names. Funny, but not very helpful in my time of stress. The old Katie would have said something like, "Come on guys, please, I need you to cooperate" The new Katie ended up finding her "Teacher Voice" and was able to get the rowdy boys in line. It took about 10 minutes to accomplish this, but all I wanted to do was accomplish it. I finished out my first day thinking, "This will be fun".

Today I had the same group of kids and once they hopped off the bus they got right into line. They knew I meant business and through my respect for them, they in turn showed respect to me. Respect is great, and I'm glad I finally got rid of the timid, let's-be-friends girl. Teacher Katie is in the house!